British College First To Offer Heavy Metal Degree

Imagine getting college credit for studying Metallica and Iron Maiden and playing metal gigs. Sounds like something metalheads might dream up after a long night of partying, but a college in the U.K. is doing just that. Beginning this fall, New College Nottingham will offer a two-year degree in heavy metal, reports the Nottingham Post.

Musician Liam Maloy designed the course, and says it will be academically rigorous. “In the past, heavy metal has not been taken seriously and is seen as lacking academic credibility when compared with genres such as jazz and classical music. But that’s just a cultural construction.”

The coursework will include the history of heavy metal, its relationship with religion and the role of metal music in video games. Practical skills will be taught as well, such as recording, music theory and on-stage performance. The second year will include playing gigs across the U.K.

It sounds like a very cool course of study, but there are detractors. The Campaign For Real Education says, "“It might seem an attractive, easy option to some people. But you don’t need to do a degree in heavy metal. It’s a waste of time.”

The course description says that once students complete the course, they might pursue careers as a musician, songwriter, music teacher, gig promoter or at a record company.

More than 20 students have already signed up for the heavy metal course. Hopefully the professor will encourage them to read Loudwire for extra credit, and who knows, one of them could become the next Bruce Dickinson or James Hetfield! Learn more about the Heavy Metal degree at New College Nottingham here.